Yes, I know. There are TONS of blogs and websites devoted to how to stage and sell your home. But I’ve noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter how much information is out there, there are still a TON of sellers who seem to ignore this information and expect buyers to overlook things that add up and turn buyers off to the point that they walk away from a sale. I’ve seen buyers fall in love with a home within moments of walking in the doorway and I’ve seen them be just as quickly fall in disgust and disappointment with a home when the buyers expected them to overlook and ignore details.
I promised myself that if I ever wrote a blog series that I would keep it real. So that’s what we are going to do. Even if it’s hard to hear (read), here ya go.
I’m going to keep it as cheap as possible. I know when you are getting ready to sell, putting a ton of money into your home isn’t your priority. Now, if you are investing and want the most for your property and have the funds, then, go for it, because what you put into it, you will more than likely get back out.
Clean and Declutter – this will help your home feel more spacious and appealing to buyers.
- Deep Clean – You can do this yourself or hire it out to professionals to get your home sparkling. Scrub from top to bottom and corner to corner. Don’t overlook anything. Hit up baseboards, windowsills, fan blades, light fixtures, and even light switches and covers. Magic Erasers are a Godsend! Fair warning – if you have any type of shine to a paint, it will take off the shine.
- Stains, Smells, and Scents – If you have pets, you don’t notice, but others do. No offense. Remember, I promised to keep it real. I have pets. I LOVE my pets. But there are smells. If there is carpet, whether or not you have a pet, have it steam cleaned - to get rid of smells from whatever stunk it up and from the stains from you don’t want to know what caused them. Install air fresheners but be careful – stay away from strong scents. Keep things light, clean, and neutral to appeal to everyone. Citrus and clean scents seem to do best and keep it on the lightest setting. Clean and replace air filters.
- Declutter – Remove personal items such as photos and sentimental knickknacks, excess furniture, and anything else that is unnecessary. You can rent a storage unit, move items into an attic or garage space, or beg a friend to hold on to it for you. This makes your home look more open and helps buyers visualize their belongings in the space. Remember – it’s no longer about how you live. It’s about helping buyers picture themselves there.
- Storage – Organize closets and storage areas. Buyers are going to open those closet doors. Now is the perfect time to declutter that closet. Go through and donate old clothes and shoes. Buy baskets to hide all the “stuff” that sits on the shelves. You want your home to look like it has PLENTY of storage.
Repairs – Small repairs can make a BIG difference. Look over your home and make a punch list of things that need attention.
- Patch Walls – Repair any dings, holes, or cracks. Give walls a fresh coat of paint. Make sure the paint job is done well and stays neutral. Soft whites, beiges, light blues and grays - a little color is fine, but when you choose bright colors, your buyers are adding up how much it’s going to cost to change it.
- Plumbing and Fixtures – Fix any leaky faucets, running toilets, and loose handles. Look in the cabinets and see if any leaks have caused damage to the cabinet floor and repair if necessary.
- Doors and Windows – Replace or repair any broken locks, handles, or screens. Spray paint can do wonders if replacing handles is too pricey.
Curb Appeal – First impressions matter! The exterior is the first thing buyers see and the last thing they will have in their memory. Make sure it’s welcoming.
- Landscaping – Trim bushes, mow the lawn, plant some fresh flowers, throw down some fresh pine straw and weed.
- Entry – Freshen up the entry way. Put out potted plants. Consider a couple of rocking chairs or patio chairs on the front patio if you can.
- Front Door – Consider painting the front door with just a pop of color or changing it out to something with windows or adding a storm door to let in some light. Anything you can do to draw attention to the front of your home to make it stand out from your neighbor in a positive way is good.
Staging – Staging doesn’t mean you have to hire professionals. Small tweaks can make a big difference.
- Arrangements – Make sure to keep walkways open. Don’t block openings. If possible, make sure beds fit the bedrooms. You might be comfortable with a large bed in a smaller room, but if it looks better with a smaller bed, then the room will feel larger and the buyer will feel like the house is more spacious.
- Too Much / Too Little – Have you ever heard, “too much of a good thing is bad.” When it comes to furniture in a room, this rule applies. Sometimes, less is more. At the same time, going too minimal can make a room seem sparse. There has to be a happy medium with both the furniture and the accessories.
- Lighting – Ensure every room has ample lighting. Bright, well-lit rooms feel more inviting. Open blinds, clean windows, and make sure all the light bulbs match. Warm white looks better, especially for photos.
- Windows – Speaking of opening the blinds, be sure to clean the windows. It lets in as much natural light as possible and helps the house feel warm and inviting.
- Decorations – Keep it neutral for photos for marketing purposes. After that, have fun, but keep it classy. Be careful of some of the items you put out. There is nothing wrong with decorating for holidays or showing off some personality, but be careful when showing off too much personality. Sometimes buyers may tour a property with children and all items should be family appropriate.